Sheffield Utd 0 Swansea 3

The magic of the FA Cup. Some say that it has lost the magic that it used to have but you try telling that to the 4,500 plus Jacks that made the trip to Sheffield today. To hear those Jacks in full voice after their side humbled a Premiership team in their own back yard tells you that the magic of the FA Cup is very much alive. Well it is in Swansea at this moment in time anyway.

I suspect that there were a few disappointed faces when the name of Sheffield United was drawn to play the Swans but as we take our place in the fourth round of the competition, I suspect that there were even less people who could have predicted that we would leave Sheffield with a three goal victory into the bargain.

The onsite bookies coupons had a 3-0 Swansea win priced at 100-1 and Tom Butler was 33-1 to score the first goal of the game. Now imagine pairing those two together on a nice scorecast. Hands up if you did it. I know I didn’t!

And I guess if you factored in the loss of Trundle, Pratley, Craney, Robinson, Painter and anyone else you care to mention then you would probably have said that those 100-1 odds may have been just a little bit on the tight side. But hey, bookies are wrong from time to time – especially on occasions like today.

So who did Jackett send out of his walking wounded? As reported beforehand, Robinson and Painter both missed out leaving us with fewer options again then we would have hoped and although the line up screamed 4-4-2 it appeared to turn rapidly into a 4-5-1 with Bayo ploughing a sole presence up front – and a very effective one at that

Big Willy

Amankwaah Lawrence Austin Williams

Britts KOL Rory Tatey Lord Tom Of Swansea

Bayo

Subs: Izzy, Watt, Jones and two more whose names escape me

I shall say at the very front end of this report that I have not yet seen the goals back so what I talk about will be from what I remember – there are newspapers if you want more accurate reporting (!)

Anyway, it could have been a dream start with Fallon forcing a very early save from Gerrard in the Blades goal. It was a good move, a neat shot but just not to be for Rory. I say a dream start I suppose the dream start was the travelling Jack Army completely drowning out the rendition of “greasy chip butty” – how many times has that happened at the Lane in recent years?

That aside, Swansea were very much on a par with the Blades in the first half and in truth other than one save at Hurst’s feet there was little for Willy to do – and other than Fallon’s early shot there was little for Gerrard to do. Butler had a free kick deflected just over and we were forced into a change when Izzy came on for the injured Amankwaah

With a goal less first half, the Swans were halfway to my prediction of a replay at the Liberty but I don’t think anyone envisaged what we would produce in the second forty five minutes. The indications were there when Butler forced a neat save from Gerrard early on and the Blades themselves had a couple of half chances that they failed to convert.

And then came the first moment that we wanted. Britts sent KOL free on the right wing – his low cross was well met by Bayo who saw his half effort scrambled away but only as far as Butler who drilled a low shot under Gerrard into the back of the net. Complete bedlam in the Swansea end – we led at Bramall Lane.

And whilst we maybe fancied holding onto that the players wanted more. Another ball into the box, more nuisance from Bayo and again Butler drilled home under Gerrard. 2-0 – this was fantasy stuff

The Blades were beaten by this point and the Swans got the space we probably never expected on the day. Butler burst into the box and was upended – penalty said D’Urso leaving the cue for three or four of ours to argue over who was taking it. Britton drew the short card (what a surprise!) and beat Gerrard with ease with his penalty. It was three frigging nil and I don’t think we had broken sweat by this point. Well, we had by it honestly didn’t seem that way

The remaining half hour pretty much passed in a motion of endless singing from the Jack end – a couple of half chances more but the work had been done and on Monday it is the name of Swansea City that will be drawn in the fourth round whilst Sheffield United will embark on trying to secure their Premiership safety.

A fantastic game, a fantastic performance in front of some fantastic fans. Its days like this that make you realise why you are a football fan.

WHO ARE WE?